"Early History of Thurston County, Washington; Together with Biographies and
Reminiscences of those Identified with Pioneer Days." Compiled and Edited by
Mrs. George E. (Georgiana) Blankenship.  Published in Olympia, Washington, 1914.
p. 65.
 
ELISHA P. FERRY

     Elisha P. Ferry, the first Governor of the State of Washington, and
Territorial Governor for two consecutive terms beginning with April, 1872, is
remembered among the pioneers as the greatest of all Governors, I. I. Stevens
alone excepted. During his many years' residence in Olympia Governor Ferry was
acknowledged to have been a man of good business ability, prudent, tactful,
painstaking, in thinking as well as in action, possessed of rare good judgment
and great firmness of character, as well as a good lawyer. He possessed all the
acquirements as well as the natural qualities that go toward making a good
executive.
     A native of Michigan, E. P. Ferry studied law there and later in Fort
Wayne, Indiana, being admitted to the bar in 1845 at the age of 20. His first
start in life after his graduation was made in Waukegan, Illinois, where he
practiced law until 1869. He was first Mayor of this town, twice Presidential
Elector, a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1861 and afterwards a Bank
Commissioner.
     When the Civil war began, Ferry served for a time as Assistant Adjutant
General and helped materially in organizing and equipping many of the early
Illinois regiments and getting them ready for the field. While engaged in this
service he became acquainted with U. S. Grant, which acquaintance soon ripened
into friendship, and after Grant became President he appointed Ferry Surveyor
General of the rapidly developing Territory of Washington. This appointment was
made in 1869, and Ferry brought his family to Olympia, which city they regarded
as their home until the removal of Governor Ferry to Seattle a few years before
his death.
    In 1872 President Grant appointed Mr. Perry Territorial Governor, and at the
expiration of that four-year term reappointed him to the same position. At the
expiration of
eight years as territorial executive Governor Ferry began the practice of law in
Seattle, continuing until the admission of Washington into statehood, when he
was elected Governor by an overwhelming vote of the people.
    Governor Perry returned to Seattle, but was claimed by death within a few
years after the end of his term.
    His widow made her home with their daughter, Mrs. John Leary, until the past
few years, when she, too, passed away.
    Besides Mrs. Leary, there are remaining of the Ferry family, Pierre and
James Ferry.

*******************

Submitted to the Washington Bios. Project in May 2007 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.